Metatarsal pad locator



May 18 1926. 1,585,458;

J. L. EARTH METATARSAL PAD LOCATOR Filed April 29, 1924 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 May 18,1926.

' J. L. EARTH METATARSAL PAD LOCATOR 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 29, 1924 May 18 1926.

J. L. EARTH METATARSAL PAD LOGATOR Filed April 29, 1924 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented his l8,

fiftieth JOSEPH L. EARTH, OF BIS MARCK, NORTH DAKOTA.

METATARSAL PAD LOCATOlE-t.

Application filed April 29, 1324. Serial No. 703,875.

The present invention is primarily designed to enable an imprint of the human foot to be taken, so as to show the location of the metatarsal heads, said imprint being used. as a basis for the measurements in melting a shoe to fit the foot.

Another object is to provide a novel construction wherein the measurements may be made along the arch of the foot or curved surface as contrasted with a flat or straight surface.

Another object is to provide a construction wherein the measurements along a curved surface or along a straight surface may be selectively made.

Another object is to provide a novel construction of arch, particularly one which is adjustable to the arch of the shoe, and particularly in which the adjustable part may be moved to different extents through manipulation of a single element and according to the arch of that shoe in which the pad is to be placed.

Additional objects and advantages will become apparent from a consideration of the description following taken in connection with accompanying drawings illustrating an o erative embodiment, in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view with the adjustable arch device removed;

Figure 2 is a substantially central longitudinal sectional view through the device complete Figure 3 is a plan view of the adjustable arcn device;

Figure lin a substantially central longitudinal sectional view through the adjustable arch device;

Figure 5 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 2,

Figure 6 is a view illustrating an arch grace in connection with shoe;

Figure 7 is an enlarged detail elevation partly in section, and

Figure 8 is a sectional View taken on the line 8--8 of Figure 7 Referring spccificallv to the drawings, a base is provided as at 10, partly along the sides of which, are risers 11. At one end of the base 10, a housing 12 is built. Removablv disposed on the base 10 between the risers 11 is an adjustable arch-iinprinting devicgenerally designated 13. Rigidly mounted in housing 12 is a shaft 14 about which a roller 15 is adapted to revolve and a clock spring 16 is interposed between the shaft 1% and roller 15, having its terminals respectively connected to them. An absorbent in pad 1'? is carried on the periphery of roller 15. A belt or tape 18 has one end as at 19 fastened to the roller 15. The spring is so arranged and tensioned that it nor mally urges rotation of the roller 15 so as to retract the tape 18 and wrap it about the pad 17 so that the moist ink thereon will be transferred to the pad. The tape or belt 18 passes from the housing under and against a roller 20 which is journaled on and carried by a vertically adjustable guide plate 21. Said plate 21 is positioned between guide strips 22 located at the front of the housing. spring fingers are fastened to the top of the guide plate 21 and have lugs 24 adapted to engage the outer surfaces of the risers or sides 11, for, instance recesses 25 in the latter, so as to hold the plate 21 at different elevations and thereby govern the elevation of the roller 2-0 and adjacent portion of the belt 18. Surplus ink is scraped from the surface of the tape or belt 18 by a fixed scraper 26 located w'thin the housing.

The forward end of the inking belt or tape 18 is detachably connected to a generally il-shaped bail 2'? which is pivoted at its terminals 28 as in clamps or cars 29 fastened to the sides 11. To effect a separable connection between saidbelt 18 and the bail 27, the belt at its distal end is preferably connected to rigid or metallic plate as at 28 which has a depending hook 29 adapted to engage the bridge of said bail.

Referring specifically to the device 13, it may have a suitable stop as at 30 centrally anti longitudinally of which a rod 31 is disposed. This rod held against longitudinal movement; but is rotatable in e bearing 32 fixed to the stop 30. Said rod 31 has screw threads as at 33, and 35. The screw threads 33 are right hand screw threads while those at 84 and 35 are left hand screw threads. Slides 36, 3'? and 38 are suitably mounted in the stop for longitudinal movement and are threaded to the respective screw threads 33, 3d and Said. screw thre (ls are of such pitch, preferably, so as through turning of rod 31 they will simul taueously travel to different extents and for instance slide 36 will move one and onesixteenth inches, while slide 3'? will travel one and one-fourth inches and slide 38 move two and one-half inches.

An arch is formed on the stop 30 and for instance by spaced arcuate plates 39 joined. together by rivets at at) which have central screw threaded openings engaged by the threads of thumb screws 41. A bracket is ri idly rast .ued to the slide 37 and rotat- 1 as shown. jidja ably carries the screw" cent each corner and at the sides, the plates l?) are joined by clamps or clips fastened thereto. Slidably disposed partly intermediate said plates 39 and at opposite ends thereof are arcuate plates n. Said plates and 4-5 overlap fiat plates 16 and respectively. Plates 1-6 and ll are respectively fastened to the bearing 32 and to the s e 38. The plate 47, thus being n'iovablc wi h the rod 31 and plate 46 remains fixed. Fastened to the slide 36 is a plate l8 which is movable with said slide and overlapped by the plate 4L6- Plate 48 has a heel guide d9 pivoted at one end thereof as at 50 and has its other end in the form of a spring finger 51 adapted for separable connection with a stud or the like 52 on the heel guide 49 to normally hold the latter in its usual position. The belt guide is raised with respect to the plate 48 so that the belt or ta 2e 18 may pass therethrough. Vertically slidable centrally ot the heel guide 4:9. is a marker The hinge mounting of the heel guide 49 enables the same to be raised so as to disengage the belt or tape 18 when the latter is disengaged from the bail 27 preparatory to removing the device 13. The tape 18 is of such length that the same, as shown in Figure 1, will not be completely drawn into the housing 12.

The plates 46 and 4:7 are cut away at their upper surfaces as at 55 to provide seats for the outer ends of the plates 44 and a5 and shoulders 56 against which said plates abut. Also arouate bolts or other tastenings 57 extend rigidly from the plates 44; and 45 through openings in the plates l6 and 4:7 and into enlarged openings 58 in the base of the arch imprinting device. Below said plates 16 and 47, expansive springs 59 sur round the bolts 57 and abut the plates L6 and 47 and removable nuts 60 on said bolts 57. i i

In using the apparatus, with the device 13 in place on the base 10 and with the belt 18 fastened to bail 27, such bail 2? is thrown forwardly so as to dispose the belt relatively close to and over the various plates on the stop 30. The foot from which an imprint is to be taken, then placed with the heel against the guide 49 with the toot resting on the plate so that the imprint particuiarl v ot the metatarsal point will be imprinted on the plate by the ink on the under surface ot tape 18 and which is applied thereto by the hilt 0t pad 17 while the tape is wrapped about the same. The rod 31 is turnable or adjustable so to Vi y the length of the device or position relatively of the plates lengthwise and the thumb screws 4L1 are turnable so as to vary the height ot the arch or central portion of the plate The imprint will be directly on the different plates, l8, e6, id, 39, L5 and sheet ct paper may be placed over such plates and directly receive the imprint. 'lhe marker 53 is adapted for depression against the belting 18 to make an imprint of the rear end or line of engagement oi? the heel with the guide In case an imprint is to be taken and it is preferred not to use the arch, the device 1 is bodily removable from the base 10 by do tachmg the belt 18 at 29 and i-nvinging the heel guide 4-9 to open position to release t 0 same. When the device 13 is removed, tne belt guide 21 is ireterably depressed or lowered so as to bring the adjacent portion of the inking tape 18 closer to the base In. sheet of paper or the hits is preferably placed on the base 10 between the sides 11 after which the belt 18 is pulled forwardly to cover the same and the toot is placed db rectly on the tape or belt. T he imprint will appear on the paper as understood.

The plates 39, 4d and 45 are preferably resilient.

A gage, as shown in Figure (5 is preferably used to facilitate the detern'iination of the height of the arch of the shoe. Suen a gage is shown in use in Figure 6 and within a shoe. It may consist oi a plurality of blades 60, each preferably pointed at the shoe engaging ends as shown and each having an elongated slot 61 accommodating a bolt 62 for adjustabl fastening the blades together.

Various changes may be resorted to pro vided they fall within the spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is 1. A device of the class described comprising a stop, arch place means on said stop, said means consisting of a plurality oi slidably engaging sections, and means to adjust said arch place means vertically and longitudinally.

2. A device of the class described having astop, an arch place device thereon, said device consisting of a plurality of slidably engaging sections and means operable to justthe arch place device with respect to the stop.

3. A device ot the class described hav' J a stop, an arch place device thereon comprising a plurality of slidably engaging plates substantially conforming to the contour ot' the upper surface of the arch of the shoe. and means operable to adjust said plates relatively to the stop and to one another.

A device of the class described havin a stop, an arch place device thereon compr 5 ing a plurality of slidably engaging plates substantially conforming to th contour of r atlongitudinally d? but if preferred, a

the upper surface of the arch of the shoe, other plates engaging said arch place device, means to sii'i'niltaneonsly actuate said arch place device plates and the last mentioned plates, and means operable to adjust said plates relatively and to different extents with respect to said actuating means.

5. A device of the class described having a stop, an arch place device thereon comprising a plurality of slidably engaging )la-tes, other plates engaging said arch place ceviee plates, all of said plates conforming substantially to the shape of the upper surface or? the shank of the shoe, a threaded rod engaging and providing operating means for said plates, and means to operate said plates to different distances through the same movement of said rod.

6. A device of the class described having a stop, arch plates thereon, other arch plates at the ends of the first mentioned arch plates and slidable relatively thereto, other plates engaged by the last mentioned arch plates, means to move one of the last mentioned plates, fastenings extending from the second mentioned arch plates and through the last mentioned plates, and expansive springs on said fastenings.

7. A device of the class described having a stop, a rod journaled on said step, three slides screw threaded to said rod, a bracket carried bv the intermediate slide Jlates carried by the other slides, an arch plate adjustably mounted on said bracket, a plate on said bearing overlapping the plate of one of said slides, two oi the plates being cut away and providing shoulders, arch plates at the end of the first mentioned arch plates engaging said shoulders, and expansive spring connections between the second mentioned arch plates and adjacent plates.

JOSEPH L. EARTH. 

